Participant funding for impact assessments in the North: Engagement on program renewal 2021 to 2022
The Northern Participant Funding Program is seeking renewal and opening an engagement to ensure any future program meets and supports the needs of Indigenous governments, organizations and Northerners.
Current status: Closed
Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) publically launched the engagement on October 29, 2021 and the engagement is now closed.
On this page
Why
CIRNAC is committed to:
- supporting the work of institutions of public government through more informed and extensive participation in their processes
- achieving reconciliation with First Nations, Inuit and Métis through renewed nation-to-nation, government-to-government and Inuit-Crown relationships based on affirmation and implementation of rights, respect, cooperation and partnership
- modernizing Government of Canada structures to enable Indigenous Peoples to build capacity and support their vision of self-determination
- recognizing and promoting Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing
- leading the Government of Canada's work in the North
- implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
The Government of Canada acknowledges the challenges faced by Indigenous peoples, including First Nations, Inuit and Métis, and Northerners in accessing resources to participate in environmental and socio-economic impact assessments of major projects in the territories. CIRNAC wants to ensure it understands how best to ensure Indigenous governments and organizations and Northerners are able to meaningfully participate in impact assessments.
These engagement sessions are an opportunity to:
- learn more about the current program and how to access the funding
- let us know which aspects of the Northern Participant Funding Program have succeeded and which need improvement
- share your views on what we can do to meet the needs and expectations of Indigenous governments, organizations and Northerners in supporting the capacity and capability to meaningfully participate in the natural resources co-management regimes in the territories
Who
CIRNAC will engage:
- regional Indigenous organizations and rights-holders, including First Nations in the provincial North with transboundary interests or rights in the 3 territories
- Indigenous women's organizations
- Indigenous groups from the Eeyou Istchee and Nunavik offshore regions
- territorial governments
- co-management boards
- environmental NGOs
- other interested non-Indigenous parties
What
We will work together with Indigenous partners to:
- understand what they want and need in a renewed Northern Participant Funding Program, designed with input from Indigenous peoples and Northerners
- enhance the capacity and capability of organizations and individuals to participate in impact assessment processes
- ensure that the distinct cultures, needs and aspirations of First Nations, Inuit and Métis are understood and reflected in the program
How to participate
There are 2 ways to participate:
- Attend an engagement session. Please email aadnc.aidefinanciereparticipants-participantfunding.aandc@canada.ca to confirm your attendance. We will post more details about engagement sessions soon.
- If you are unable to attend an engagement session, you can participate by sending your comments directly by email to the address listed in the Contact us section.
We have developed an engagement guide designed for Indigenous governments and organizations, non-Indigenous organizations, and individuals to help guide their engagement and reflections about the Northern Participant Funding Program.
The guide is not meant to be a restrictive tool and using it, or not using it, is entirely your choice. Please share your thoughts however you prefer.
This engagement guide contains:
- a background information presentation
- the engagement sessions' dates and format
- the proposed engagement topics
- a template for submitting feedback from your session to the Government of Canada
- a previous engagement session's feedback summary report
To get a copy of the guide please email aadnc.aidefinanciereparticipants-participantfunding.aandc@canada.ca.
Contact us
Email: aadnc.aidefinanciereparticipants-participantfunding.aandc@canada.ca